Public Transit Advisory Commission

Advises City staff and Council with regard to transit policy and safety matters concerning transit issues affecting the City. This thirteen member commission has one member each appointed by the University of Missouri, Columbia College and Stephens College, and the remaining ten members are appointed by the City Council, of which one must be a University of Missouri student. The length of terms is three years for those appointed by the City Council, except the University of Missouri student representative, who has a one year term, with openings occurring in February.

Establishing Legislation:

Section 2-337 Duties.The commission shall have the following duties:1) Advise city staff with regard to transit policy and safety matters concerning transit issues affecting the city, for example, alternative modes, accessibility and customer amenities. (2) Serve as a sounding board for citizen transit, pedestrian and safety and access issues and make recommendations to the city council and city staff for appropriate action. (3) Recommend rules and procedures governing public transit service programs, equipment and facilities considering regulatory guidelines, service improvements, and activities of persons utilizing transit services and facilities. (4) Aid in the development of a city Transportation Improvement Program by providing citizen input on needed projects for submission to the Metropolitan Planning Organization. (5) Create and review surveys and facilitate public input on public transit programming and facility usage. (6) Recommend and promote marketing strategies for community outreach programs in order to strengthen the transit image, increase usage, and integrate its role within the community. (7) Study issues arising under the Columbia Transit Master Plan as they relate to transportation, make recommendations to the city council and Metropolitan Planning Organization, and prepare reports to aid in the development, implementation and general improvement of the master plan relating to the public transit in the city. (8) Other duties assigned by the city council.(Ord. No. 20501, § 1, 12-21-09; Ord. No. 21571, § 1, 1-7-13; Ord. No. 21681, § 2, 5-20-13)

Section 2-338 Membership.(a) The commission shall consist of thirteen (13) members. One (1) member shall be a University of Missouri student appointed by the council to a one year term. One (1) member shall be a Columbia College student or administrator appointed by the Columbia College administration. One (1) member shall be a Stephens College student or administrator appointed by the Stphens College administration. One (1) member shall be a representative of the University of Missouri appointed by the University of Missouri administration. The remaining nine (9) at large members shall be appointed by the city council. Consideration shall be given to the appointment of an eligible Colulmbia Transit paratransit rider, an owner or representative of a business, a member of the disabilities commission, a member of the bicycle/pedestrian commission, a representative of the Columbia Public School District, and/or a representative of Columbians for Modern Efficient Transit (CoMET), an advocacy group of PedNet.(b) Three (3) of the initial at large members appointed by the city council shall serve terms of one (1) year, three (3) shall serve terms of two (2) years, and three (3) shall serve terms of three (3) years. Thereafter, appointments made to the at large positions by the council shall be for terms of three (3) years, except that appointments to fill vacancies, occurring other than by expiration of terms, shall be filled for the unexpired term only. The term of each member appointed by the council shall end on March 1, or until a successor is duly appointed and qualified. It shall be the duty of the chair to promptly notify the city council of a vacancy. The members appointed by persons other than the city council shall serve for terms designated by the appointing authority and shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.(Ord. No. 20501, § 1, 12-21-09; Ord. No. 21571, § 1, 1-7-13; Ord. No. 21681, § 2, 5-20-13)

Section 2-339 Officers.The commission shall annually elect one of its members as chair at the first meeting after the beginning of each fiscal year. The chair shall appoint a vice-chair from the remaining commission members. The chair shall preside at all meetings. In the absence of the chair or the chair's inability to preside, the vice-chair shall preside. The commission rules may specify the duties of the officers.(Ord. No. 20501, § 1, 12-21-09; Ord. No. 21571, § 1, 1-7-13; Ord. No. 21681, § 2, 5-20-13)